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    Rudy's

    3.9 (144 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican
    Closed 8:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order Rudy's Takeout or Delivery

    Rudy's Photos

    RUDY'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Rudy's

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    Reviews With Photos

    Vegan Sopes
    Cody H.

    Love that they have a vegan menu. The food was fresh and tasty. Fair prices. Great salsa bar. Friendly staff.

    Chicken Taquitos
    Kim K.

    Walked over from our hotel for dinner one night. No wait to order, plenty of seating. Got a one item combo with crispy chicken taco and an order of chicken taquitos. The taco was huge but was mostly shredded lettuce, not a lot of flavor. Salsa from the salsa bar helped. Taco fell apart while trying to eat it. I removed half of the lettuce & that made it more manageable. Beans and rice were good. Taquitos were ok. Nice salsa bar available. Probably wouldn't return.

    Flautitas verdes
    Frank A.

    Stopped by Rudy's for a good dinner with the wife before attending an event across the street at the Lobero Theatre. I was greeted warmly by the staff and asked if I needed help or recommendations. I ordered the Chicken Flautitas Verdes. Wow was I pleasantly surprised. HUGE flautas loaded with seasoned chicken. No sides but plenty of green sauce and cream. We had the churros for dessert which come with 6 smaller churros with a side of dulce de Leche. Highly recommend. Good take out restaurant, street parking is limited. No public restroom, seating inside is limited.

    Classico Burrito
    Aundrea Z.

    I ordered the Classic burrito for takeout. We got there in time but still waited a little for them to bring out our order. Gave us extra chips for waiting though so all is good. The burrito was so delicious, probably the best Mexican burrito I've had in SB so far. Place is small but very cute and decorated for November! Great food, great price!

    Payal P.

    Went here for dinner since I was craving Mexican! To start, the waitress/server at the register was really helpful and nice. We got nachos for the table which were so good! I also got the Chile rilleno bean rice and cheese burrito. I got it "wet" with queso fresco on top. It was so good! It was huge and def no way I could've finished but def delicious. All of the menu items looked delicious, esp the chimichangas!

    Came into work a bit early and felt like I needed a little breakfast before starting the day. Rudy's was there to take care of me! I have two benchmarks for what makes a Mexican restaurant good. 1 - they need a solid breakfast burrito with simple ingredients . 2 - they need to have amazing Carnitas. Today I tried their #2 breakfast burrito with scrambled eggs, cheese and beans. Let me tell you, it was far from number 2 and was a solid 10! Certainly did not disappoint. A very generous portion with well distributed ingredients all wrapped up inside a warm flower tortilla the size of my forearm! Add into the mix a salsa bar with a little something for everybody and you have a perfect breakfast experience. The staff was nice, service was fast , restaurant was impeccably clean and I will definitely be coming back to try the Carnitas on my next visit!

    Salsa bar, classic burrito with carnitas and vegan sopes
    Roslyn L.

    As a vegan married to a carnivore, Rudy's is our on the way home from work Go-to spot. We pickup great food and add zesty salsa and occasionally churros. The food quality isn't compromised and there's friendly service over the phone on or in person. There's also a dine-in option with a cute ambiance. If you dine-in don't forget to add chips for the salsa bar or to pickup a cup of pickled onions.

    Wet burrito
    Harley M.

    Mini Santa Barbara chain with a big menu ranging from tacos, burritos, enchiladas, etc. Portions are quite large and not too pricey. A few outdoor tables and lots of indoor tables (empty on a Friday night in January). Street parking seemed readily available as well. They have a small salsa bar with ~5 salsas to try and pick from. I got a steak wet burrito - a huge burrito with rice, beans, steak, sour cream, guac, etc. Very tasty and big portions. I ate about 2/3 for dinner and saved the last 1/3 for lunch the next day.

    Enchiladas Suizas close up
    Angela R.

    This spot is one of 3 locations and probably my favorite of them all, due to how spacious it is inside and the consistency of freshly made food they have served for my takeout orders. Obviously right now during COVID-19 there is no inside dining and there are only a few tables outside to sit at. This location is rarely busy from my experience but that could be due to their location being off the beaten path and also the number of mexican restaurants we have in this town competing against each other. Everyone has their preferences in what mexican food should taste like, but I'm not too picky so Rudy's comes through when I'm in a pinch. They are known for their huge crispy tacos which are heavily stuffed with shredded chicken or beef, lettuce, and cheese. It's so overly packed that I usually have to remove a lot of the lettuce just to bite into the taco. No complaints here because once you bite into the taco, it is delicious! The salmon tacos are my sons favorite and the best part is their corn tortillas are homemade. His other go to item on the menu is the vegetarian burrito. My go to's are the chicken enchiladas, tacos and nachos. Selection of salsas are mild, medium and hot with your choices of green, red or roasted salsa. Overall the service here is always welcoming and friendly. The wait time is pretty quick for walk-in orders. Don't forget to wear a mask, bring hand sanitizer and keep your distance!

    Enchiladas Suizas Meal
    Richie D.

    If I am in downtown Santa Barbara and have a taste for basic Mexican food while on a time crunch, Rudy's always becomes my choice. I like that it's a local "fast food" chain--without being truly fast food or a large chain. This particular Rudy's is centrally located across from the beautiful Presidio Chapel which makes for great people watching. Whether it is their "famous crispy taco" (stuffed with beef, of course), a massive torta, or the saucy enchiladas, you can't go wrong. Prices are reasonable--especially if you own an Axxess card. They offer the salsa bar with a variety of fresh salsas, plus all the chopped cilantro, onions and peppers. Lastly, they have the Mexican coca-cola or horchata. Short and sweet!

    Vegan Sopes

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    Great prices, cute cute interior, nice staff. $13 for a giant breakfast burrito that I ate for two meals. Great salsa bar too.

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    Santo Mezcal

    Santo Mezcal

    4.3
    (2k reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    If you're looking for a spot this summer with all the vibes, killer margaritas, and delicious food,…read morelook no further than Santo Mezcal in Santa Barbara. My bestie (and yelp elite) Imo brought me here for a girls day after raving about it for months, and now I completely understand the hype. We grabbed seats at the bar (which is honestly the place to be, especially since this spot gets busy on the weekends). Hint hint: make a reservation or get here early. But overall the bar was the perfect place to people watch and to catch up. When it comes to service, impeccable. Despite being busy everyone was attentive and the drinks/food were well placed despite it being a full house. And can we talk about the bartenders? They were so welcoming and even let us film while they worked their magic making cocktails. Watching them crank out cocktails with so much flair was half the entertainment and they couldn't have been nicer. Service was definitely a 10/10. We enjoyed a few margaritas but my favorite was definitely the Hibiscus Margarita. It wasn't overly sweet and was just refreshing. I also had the tamarind Marg which was good too. Extensive cocktail menu and mezcal if you like it. The food absolutely lived up to the drinks. Santo Mezcal takes classic Mexican flavors and gives them a slightly elevated twist while still keeping everything comforting and approachable. My friend couldn't stop talking about her Pork Belly Tacos and I fell in love with the Shrimp Enchiladas. They were loaded with fresh shrimp and covered in the most incredible creamy chipotle sauce (same as their sister restaurant Los agaves for reference). Definitely one of my favorite enchiladas around, 10/10 also. One thing I wasn't expecting is that their chips and salsa might be some of the best I've had. The tortilla chips were fresh, warm, perfectly salted, and paired with a salsa so good I probably ate two bowls before our food even arrived. Honestly, you could sit at the bar with a basket of chips, salsa, and margaritas for hours and be completely happy. Make sure you don't pass up on the chips and salsa. As noted, this is a more elevated Mexican restaurant so prices are slightly more $$$ but you get what you pay for. Just worth noting because if you equate good Mexican food being $2 tacos and a bucket of beer, this spot won't do it for you. But if you want something for more of a special occasion where the food, vibes and service are A+ then this spot is for you.

    Found this place off Yelp and have to say, it did not disappoint. It's on the Main Street headed…read moreto the pier so great location. Great place to take a rest and people watch. You get free chips & salsa and they have a variety which is nice. We also asked for a hot one and boy was it hot-habanero. We ordered: -Ceviche de Mariscos- good, refreshing -Pulpo tacos- great flavor, small amount of octopus for the price. The salad with mango dressing is amazing! -tacos rib eye- she loved it -short rib tacos - also enjoyed Service was good. Delicious

    Photos
    Seating area
    Seating area
    Picana Oaxaquena
    Picana Oaxaquena
    Sopecitos

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    Sopecitos
    Los Agaves

    Los Agaves

    4.5
    (4.6k reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    The food, service and ambiance are superb. Ironically we were going to another taco place but it…read morewas closed today. My husband and I were delighted to experience such a clean, fresh restaurant. The prices are right as well. Highly recommend!

    Los Agaves On De Lavina St. -- A Rare Review from Someone Who Hates Writing Reviews…read moreI spent 25 years owning a business. I know what good service looks like, and I know what entitled looks like. I never write reviews -- I watched Yelp destroy good people over bad nights, and I swore I'd stay out of it. Tonight changed that. I sat at the bar. It took the bartender over five minutes to acknowledge I existed. Another five to ten to deliver a Coke. I ordered dinner and waited forty minutes -- which I might have forgiven, except getting his attention was nearly impossible the entire night. No eye contact. Body language that made clear I was an inconvenience, not a guest. Every interaction felt like I was interrupting something more important. When I finally got him to check on my order, he went to the computer and discovered he'd never placed it. I walked out. I noticed the people around me weren't faring much better. The slowness wasn't just my experience -- it was the room. Los Agaves appears to be a popular place, and maybe on another night with another bartender it earns that reputation. But entitlement has a way of spreading when nobody checks it. I hope management is paying attention -- because a beautiful restaurant dies one invisible guest at a time.

    Photos
    Fresh new update to the restaurant
    Fresh new update to the restaurant
    Ceviche Tostada (amazing!)
    Ceviche Tostada (amazing!)
    Margarita Flight

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    Margarita Flight
    Corazon Cocina

    Corazon Cocina

    4.5
    (1.2k reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    Back to table service! Yay!!!…read more Attractive and very clean restaurant with great service. Truly delicious Mexican food. I love pozole - Cc's rendition is top notch and comes with all the extras to put in the soup including avocado, chopped onion, a whole fried tortilla to break up into the broth and Mexican oregano (the small is more than enough for one hungry person or to share with two).Homemade chips come with a four salsa selection ranging substantially hot to a delicate tomatillo green. I tried my tablemate's tacos, all three varieties were very very good. I've had takeout from here, but it's really worth going in person because the food is nuanced and best when piping hot as it's made.

    Corazón Cocina is located inside the Santa Barbara Public Market (food court like setting). Just a…read moreheads up, the parking lot is extremely tight, and finding a spot can be frustrating, especially during busy hours. This is a Michelin-recognized spot in 2021 and I came in with pretty high expectations. Unfortunately, the seasonal fish ceviche was a major letdown. The albacore tasted overly fishy and had a stringy texture. The combination of watermelon, cucumber, and avocado was creative and refreshing, but the fish itself was disappointing. We ended up picking around it and eventually threw away all of the albacore because we didn't feel comfortable eating it. Thankfully, the tacos were a completely different story. We ordered the skirt steak taco and the octopus taco, and both were fantastic. Great flavor, well-balanced, and easily the highlight of the meal. The other downside was the service. The guy taking the order was dismissive and turned away when we told him about the quality of their fish in their ceviche. Between the disappointing ceviche and lackluster service, it was the tacos that were the saving grace.

    Photos
    Corazon Cocina
    Corazon Cocina
    Sal de Mar Ceviche
    Sal de Mar Ceviche
    Sal del mar.. Good but could use a bit more acidity. Comes with tortilla chips.

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    Sal del mar.. Good but could use a bit more acidity. Comes with tortilla chips.
    Flor De Maiz

    Flor De Maiz

    4.1
    (1.1k reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$$

    A Must-Visit in Santa Barbara If you're visiting Flor de…read moreMaiz, you absolutely cannot skip this place. We ordered the pulpo and the chicken mole, and both dishes were incredible. The pulpo was perfectly cooked--tender with a great char and packed with flavor. The chicken mole was rich, balanced, and deeply satisfying, with that classic complex mole flavor that keeps you going back for another bite. What really stood out, though, was the service. It was phenomenal from start to finish--attentive, friendly, and genuinely welcoming without ever feeling rushed. The staff clearly care about the experience they're giving guests. The food, the atmosphere, and the service all came together for a great meal. If you're in Santa Barbara, make sure this spot is on your list. Highly recommend.

    We came in as a group of 14 for a reservation and the food itself was genuinely delicious -- the…read morefresh corn tortillas and ceviche were my favorites, and overall the flavors were great. That said, the service experience really brought things down. We arrived at 3:00 for our reservation but weren't seated until 3:20. Once we were seated, it took a while to get settled -- some guests in our own party were slow to get moving and had clearly had a lot to drink, so there was a strong smell of alcohol at our table for a bit, which added to the chaos of getting everyone situated. On top of that, the staff seemed overwhelmed the whole time. There was a fiesta event going on, so the whole restaurant was using plastic cups instead of glassware, which felt a little unfestive for a place at this price point. The music was also very loud, which made it even harder to flag anyone down for service. Despite it being clear the staff were short-staffed and stretched thin, no one offered any acknowledgment, apology, or gesture of care for the wait or the overall experience. The food quality (minus the steak) makes me want to come back, but the service needs real improvement, especially during busy events. The steak in particular didn't match its price -- it tasted more like a $35 steak than what we were charged.

    Photos
    Romantic lit candles along steps
    Romantic lit candles along steps
    MOLE NEGRO   Jidori chicken| black mole | rice | fried plantains | sesame seeds | tortillas
    MOLE NEGRO Jidori chicken| black mole | rice | fried plantains | sesame seeds | tortillas
    Flan - delicious! And I'm not a flan girly

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    Flan - delicious! And I'm not a flan girly
    Loquita

    Loquita

    4.4
    (1.8k reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$$

    After a very disappointing meal the day before, I knew EXACTLY where I needed to go to redeem my…read moreexperience and I was absolutely blown away by Loquita. Every single dish was an absolute banger. The flavors, the textures, the ambience, and every single part was crafted so carefully. The pulpo was so tender it had me smacking the table and everyone around needed to order it bc "they'll have what he's having!". The paella was the gift that kept on giving and I was like a coal miner after his shift the way I left absolutely no grain of rice untouched by the end. The fish complete with ikura and citrus on top had every combination of refreshing but nourishing and delicious--I was absolutely spellbound. Finally, we enjoyed the creme brûlée and I wanted to cry. It was the perfect finish to one of my favorite meals of all time. I will be back so soon!!

    Wife and I have enjoyed dining at Laquita in the past, but this time was disappointing overall…read more Pros: Food/waiter service was excellent even though it was an extremely busy Saturday night. Highly recommend reservations for any day. The crudo dish was great. Sauce and presentation was excellent. Cons: The fusion styled sauce and misc ingredients added to the beef carpaccio dish was over the top. Keep it simple. The Pulpo dish did not have a sufficient portion of octopus. Only two and half small pieces for $29. Ridiculous. Bar/cocktail service was an extremely long wait. All nearby tables also waited an extremely long time for drinks. Recommend adding another bartender on busy nights.

    Photos
    Cake table set up by staffers.
    Cake table set up by staffers.
    Piquillos Ahumados
    Piquillos Ahumados
    CROQUETA DE JAMÓN 3 FOR $16  paprika aioli, crispy potato nest with  Add truffle manchego $5

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    CROQUETA DE JAMÓN 3 FOR $16 paprika aioli, crispy potato nest with Add truffle manchego $5

    Rudy's - mexican - Updated August 2026

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